Swimming Team Does Well At Radford

RADFORD, Va.-The North Carolina A&T swimming team
finished the Highlander Invitational in strong form, sending five athletes to
the finals of a trio of events. The
Aggies finished the invitational in sixth place with 162 points.

"It was the best performance ever at the Radford
Invitational as a team," said A&T head coach Shawn Hendrix. "I'm very proud."

The day saw a school record fall, as senior Lauren Bowling broke
her own record by turning in a 2:15.64 performance in the finals of the 200-yard
butterfly event, besting the previous mark of 2:15.86.

"It was a great race!" Hendrix said. "Lauren's senior leadership was displayed in
her focus and determination at the finals by swimming her best 200 fly."

Overall, the Aggies had seven swimmers compete in various
finals the meet. At last year's
Highlander Invitational, the Aggies had just two swimmers -Danielle Jackson and
Bowling - appear in two finals apiece.
The A&T swimming team also had several athletes set new career and
season best times this week in Radford.

"The team was so hyped for really everybody. Everyone also met their goal times," Hendrix
said. "Every swimmer surpassed their
best times in at least two events. The girls did a fabulous job dropping
time. They were mentally exhausted
because it was the last day of the meet and everybody went faster."

"In the 400 IM, Victoria Orr dropped 15 seconds in the
preliminaries and another 12 seconds in the Finals A. It was the catalyst moment that drove the
momentum and expectations to a higher level," Hendrix said.

The success the Aggies recorded on Friday translated into
strong performances on Saturday.

On Saturday morning in the 200-yard backstroke preliminary
race, Hill clocked in at 2:26.09 for 14th place, while Jacobs
finished in 15th in 2:27.07. In
the finals, Jacobs clocked in at 2:23.09 for 14th place, while Hill
finished in 2:25.71 for 15th.

In the 100-yard freestyle preliminary race, Kenya Dunn had
the best time for the Aggies (57.49). Lauren
Bowling touched the wall in 58.08 for a new career-best.

In the 200-yard breaststroke preliminary heat, Danielle
Jackson was 15th with a time of 2:45.93. She placed 15th in 2:44.06 in the
finals of that event. Aarin Miles was 19th
in the preliminary race with a career-best 2:58.83 time.

In the 200 yard butterfly preliminary heat, Lauren Bowling
finished in 10th place in 2:24.57. In the finals heat of the event,
Bowling finished ninth with a new career-best and new school record 2:15.64. Jade
Hill was 12th in 2:39.00 in the preliminary heat, and in the finals,
Hill touched the wall in 2:33.18.

The success the Aggies enjoyed at the Highlander
Invitational will help them as they prepare for the second half of their
season, which will begin in January.

"We are ahead of the curve," said Hendrix. "Now we must maintain momentum, stay focused
and continue to be committed to doing the small things. The molding of this team is developing with
the cohesiveness of team work."